Supreme Court Criticizes MP Minister Vijay Shah for Insufficient Apology to Col Sofiya Qureshi

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed significant discontent with the apology offered by Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah regarding his defamatory comments about Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The court deemed the apology inadequate and lacking in sincerity.

A bench consisting of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi criticized the BJP minister for not issuing an appropriate public apology, stating that his behavior was "testing the court's patience." The justices further remarked that Shah's actions cast doubt on the authenticity of his intentions.

These observations emerged during the hearing of a case related to Shah's controversial statements about Col Qureshi, who had previously briefed the country on the Army's actions during Operation Sindoor. The minister attracted criticism after a video circulated showing his offensive remarks following the operation.

Shah's attorney, K. Parmeshwar, informed the court that an apology had been posted online and promised to submit it officially in the next hearing. However, the court emphasized that an online apology was insufficient and called for a more genuine acknowledgment of misconduct.

Inquiring about the investigation's progress, the court questioned a member of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and directed them to provide a status report by August 13. The court noted that the SIT had interviewed 87 individuals and was still in the process of reviewing statements.

The three-member SIT was established following instructions from the Supreme Court. The bench instructed the investigators to conclude the inquiry within the mandated 90-day period. The case is scheduled to be heard again on August 18.

The controversy ensued after Shah's remarks about Col Qureshi were met with widespread condemnation. During an earlier hearing, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had described the minister's language as being akin to "the language of gutters," underscoring the gravity of the accusations against him.